Package for cigarettes and like articles



June 28, 1932. w MQLlNS 1,864,925

PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed Aug. 9, l928 FIG.T.

M/Z M Patented June 28, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WALTER EVERETT MOLINS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES AND LIKE ARTICLES Application filed August 9, 1928, Serial No.

The present invention consists of an improved package particularly for use in packing cigarettes and like articles, and is a continuation in part of my application Serial The present invention consists of a package for cigarettes which comprises an envelope formed from paper or like material and arranged to be opened at least at one end, a rectangular frame of rigid material built up of at least four limbs equal in length to the four narrow sides of the package arranged within said envelope so as to be independent thereof, and movable relatively thereto, the closing limb of the frame being arranged to extend across one end of the cigarettes so that the free end thereof lies directly above the free end of that limb of the frame Which is located on the opposite side of the package whereby the free end of the closing limb constitutes means for easily opening the package, and in addition, facilitates the withdrawal of cigarettes from the package.

Further, the present invention consists of a package composed of a U shaped block ended envelope formed from paper or like material and strengthened by a rectangular frame of rigid material, arranged within the same so as to be independent thereof, and movable relatively thereto, the side folds of the envelopebeing arranged so that each side extension of the base of the U is folded so as to lie between the folds formed from the corresponding side extension of the limbs of the U. 4

Again, the present invention consists of a package which comprises a rectangular frame of rigid material located within a U shaped block ended envelope so as to reinforce four sides thereof, and means located on at least one unprotected side of the envelope to permit the contents to be easily re-' 'moved from the package without destroying the transverse rigidity thereof.

The inventionis more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a wrapper built up of two J0 superimposed strips of wrapping material.

298,545, and in Great Britain May 6, 1926.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a rectangular frame of rigid material for use with a package constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing a imodified form of rectangular frame.

Fig. 4 illustrates the preferred arrangement of the side folds of the paper envelo e of a package constructed according to t e present invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the final broad end flap of the paper envelope is sealed to the other broad end flap thereof.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of a package constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a package illustrating the means whereby the contents may be easily removed therefrom.

Referring to the drawing a batch 1 comprising for example ten cigarettes, is embraced around the four narrow sides thereof by a strip of rigid material, which is folded into a rectangular frame about lines which have been previously scored so as to facilitate the folding of the strip around the batch of cigarettes. The width of the strip of material which forms the rectangular frame corresponds to the depth of the rows of cigarettes. The strip is first folded into a U shape 30 around the cigarettes so as to form the bottom 3 and the two narrow side panels 4 and 5 and the end of the strip panel 4 is provided with an extension 6 (Fig. 3) which is thereafter folded across the free end of the batch of cigarettes so that the free end of the extension 6 lies above the free end of the side panel 5.

When the form of frame shown in Fig. 2 is used, the bottom 3 and the two narrow side panels 4 and 5 are folded into a U shape around the cigarettes, but in this instance the extensions 6 and 7 of the panels 4 and 5 are folded across the free end of the batch of cigarettes so as to meet substantially at the mid-width of the batch of cigarettes.

The batch of cigarettes is thereafter enveloped in a wrapper, the longer dimension of which is disposed at right angles to the longer dimension of the strip. The wrapper comprises an inner liner 8 and an outer paper no wrapper 9. The inner liner may, if necessary, be made narrower than the outer wrapper 9 so as to permit the edge of one side fold of the outer wrapper to be stuck to the other side fold along the complete length of the same, which operation would be impossible if the inner liner were made of the same width as the outer wrapper. The inner liner 8 may also be made shorter than the outer wrapper, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to enable the free end of the final broad end flap of the outer envelope to be secured to the other broad end flap of the same in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. If necessary, the inner liner could be made of the same length as the outer wrapper and one end of the same perforated so as to allow the final broad end flap of the outer wrapper to be secured by adhesive to the other broad end flap through the perforations, Fig. 5, in the inner liner. Or again, in automatic wrapping, the inner liner could be slipped relatively to the outer wrapper so as to provide the displacement at one end, shown in Fig. 1.

The side folds of the envelope are formed so that when the composite wrapper is folded into a U about the batch of cigarettes the side extensions 12 of one limb of the U are folded upon the narrow side panels 4- and 5 of the reinforcing frame embracing the batch of cigarettes, prior to the extensions 13 of the bottom of the U being folded against the narrow side panels 4 and 5 of the frame. The side extensions 14 of the other limb of the U are thereupon folded upon the narrow sides of the batch of cigarettes and secured to the other side fold by means of adhesive so that the extensions 13 of the bottom of the U lie between the folds formed from the corresponding side extensions 12 and l-tof the limbs of the U.

By folding the sides of the envelope in the manner set forth above, it will be observed that no protruding piece of the wrapper extends into the interior of the envelope which would be liable to foul the frame of rigid material when the same is moved relatively to the package.

By constructing the side folds in the manner set forth above and by ensuring that the base 3 and one side of the reinforcing frame is movable relatively to the envelope. it is possible to incline the base 3 of the reinforcing frame to the base of the envelope so as to arrange the cigarettes in stepped formation above the open mouth of the package in order that they may be easily removed therefrom for insertion in a cigarette case.

. Further, when the frame of rigid material is built up in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, that is, when only one of the limbs 4 and 5 is provided with an extension 6, it will be appreciated that when the side tucks are formed at the open end of the packet, the extension 6 will lie beneath the side tuck,

Fig. 7 at the point adjacent to where the extension hinges on the limb 4, but on top of the corresponding side tuck on the opposite side of the packet, due to the fact that the free end of the extension 6 has to sweep through alonger are than does the free end of the side tuck on the opposite side of the packet which corresponds to the side tuck 7. Thus in making up the packet automatically the free end of the extension 6 can be arranged to rest on top of one of the side tucks formed at one side of the open end of the packet, whereafter the two broad end flaps 10 and 11 are folded one upon the other.

If desired, the extension 6 may be folded down upon the cigarettes before the side tucks of the packet are made, in which case the same would lie beneath both side tucks.

When it is desired to open the packet the upper end of the side panel 14 is pressed inwardly so that the free end of the extension 6 protrudes, giving a finger hold which thereafter enables the packet to be partially opened for the removal of cigarettes one at a time, according to the practice popular in the United States of America, or enables the packetto be opened so as to expose all the cigarettes and permit their easy removal in the manner set forth above. Again, when the cigarettes are removed one at a time, the loose frame permits the last few cigarettes to be automatically brought adjacent to the opening formed atthe open end.

The envelope may be provided with a perforated portion 10 on one of the unprotected broad sides of the same which can be easily slit so as to enable the contents of the package to be removed therefrom without interfering with the reinforcing frame which enihraces the contents. The package hereinbefore set forth may be automatically formed upon a machine constructed according tomy co-pending U. S. application Serial No. 188.285. although it will be appreciated that the package could be formed in any other desired manner.

It will be appreciated that the packet hereinbefore referred to may be enveloped in an outer cup without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The package hereinbefore set forth possesses the advantage that the same may be cheaply manufactured and yet possess the rigidity of a package built entirely of cardboard. strawboard or like material, and further, the reinforcing frame inserted within the envelope is arranged to be moved relatively to the envelope without the possibility of the sideextensions of the base of the envelope fouling the same as the frame is being replaced.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A package composed of a U shaped block-ended envelope formed from flexible material, and having side folds, and a reinforcing frame of relatively rigid material arranged within the envelo so as to be independent thereof and mova le relatively there- 5 to, the side folds of the envelope being arranged so that each side extension of tiibase of the U is folded so 'as' to lie between the folds formed from the correspondin side ex-' tensions of the limbs of the U where y interference by the side extensions of the base with the movement of the frame is avoided 2. A package comprising a rectangular block-shaped envelope having side tucks and broad end folds at one end thereof, and a reinforcing frame inserted within said envelope and having one free end extending across the said end of' the envelope, said free end being disposed under one side tuck and over the other side tuck.

l0 3. A package comprising a rectangular block-shaped envelope having side tucks and broad end folds at one end thereof, and a reinforcing frame inserted within said envelope and having one free end extending across the said end of the envelope, said free end being disposed under the broad end folds and; one side tuck and over the other side tuc 4. A package which comprises a rectan- 90 gular block-ended envelope formed from flexible material, and a rectangular frame of relativel rigid material built up of at least four lim s arranged within the'envelope so as to be independent thereof and movable 5 relatively thereto, one limb of the said frame extending across the open end of the package so as to permit the free end thereofto lie above the end of the upwardly extending limb located on the opposlte side of the package whereby the same constitutes means for easily opening the package, and in addition, facilitates the withdrawal of articles from the package, the side folds of the envelope be ing arranged so that each side extension of the base of the U is folded so as to lie between the folds formed from the corresponding side extensions of the limbs of the U whereby interference by the side extensions of the base with the movement of the frame is avoided.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WALTER EVERETT MOQLINS. 

